Don Nelson, one of the most successful and influential coaches in NBA history, has died at the age of 86, his family announced on Sunday.
Nelson won five NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics between 1966 and 1976, with the franchise later retiring his No. 19 jersey in his honour. He went on to build a remarkable coaching career spanning Golden State, Milwaukee, New York and Dallas from 1976 to 2010.
As a coach, Nelson recorded 1,335 wins and 1,063 losses, a league record at the time until Gregg Popovich surpassed his mark in 2022. Despite never reaching the NBA Finals as a head coach, Nelson earned widespread recognition for his innovative approach and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver described Nelson as a fearless and inventive figure who revolutionised basketball, while several of his former teams, including the Warriors, Celtics, Bucks and Mavericks, paid tribute to his lasting influence on the sport.
